Philippines in 2012 Olympic Games this summer in London
By Eddie G. Alinea
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) will not seek funding from the government for the country’s participation in the coming 2012 Olympic Games this summer in London.
POC vice president and national delegation chef de mission to the Games Manny Lopez said on Friday that the unprecedented move was agreed upon after the executive board, in its meeting last Wednesday, decided to raise the needed funds instead of availing of the P30 million pledged by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for the purpose.
“PSC chair Richie Garcia was in attendance in that Wednesday meeting (presided over by POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco) where we told him of our plan to create a POC marketing arm for the purpose of generating funds to send our national contingent to London,” Lopez said during the SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura in Ermita, Manila.
Heading the marketing arm is Tats Suzara, a former PSC staffer himself, who for the last few years worked in several countries overseas, Lopez told his audience during the session, sponsored by Coca Cola Export, FILA and UNTV.
Besides the funds expected to be raised, Lopez, vice president of the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, the recognized national sports association in the sport which he headed for many years, the POC will also avail of the pledge of the London Olympic Games Organizing Committee to shoulder the expenses of all athletes going to the British capital to participate in the Games acknowledged as the “Greatest Sports Show On Earth.”
“When London was bidding for the hosting of the 2012 Games, one of its promise for earning the honor was they will subsidize the participation of athletes from each country to the tune of 787 pounds each,” Lopez disclosed.